پرنس شیطانی

I’m curled on a bed of gold coins, close to slumber, when the next warrior tries to plunder my cave.This one isn’t as stupid as the last. He tiptoes into the darkness without a torch or lantern. When he draws his sword, blue light glows along the steel. Wonderful. Yet another enchantment, probably an overpriced dragonslaying gimmick he bought from the merchants in town. They’re making a pretty penny, and I can’t begrudge them for it.The warrior edges through the gloom, his boots scraping the stone. Smoke drifts from my nose, but no more than a snuffed candle. His toes nudge a heap of treasure, knocking down a ruby as big as an egg. It chimes on the gold and rolls across to my claws.Damn, now I can’t pretend to be sleeping.Uncoiling to my full height, I snap open my wings and unleash a roar. Too late, I hope he hasn’t pissed himself. The last adventurer soiled his armor, and I couldn’t get the stink out of my cave for a week.“Dragon!” he shouts. “Your reign of tyranny is at an end.”